Writing pen



Nov. M, 1939. w. G. A. McKAY WRITING PEN Filed Dec. l5, 1958 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRITING PEN poration of Wisconsin Application December 15, 1938, Serial No. 245,817

4 claims. (ci. 12o- 113)l This invention relates to writing pens and more particularly to pens which are adapted to write with ink or similarlwriting fluid for. a consderable length of time with a single dipping of the pen in an ink supply. The object of the present invention is to provide, in a pen of the character indicated, means for preventing the creeping or seepage of ink from the ink-holding means or feed bar upwardly to the end of the pen holder.

The present invention constitutes an improvement which is especially adapted for use in connection with writing pen structures such as Sengbusch Patents Numbers 1,767,189, June 24, 1930 and 1,915,338, June 27, 1933.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which there is illustrated a writing pen embodying a selected form of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view illustrating a pen embodying the present invention and one way in which the pen is especially adapted to be used, certain parts being broken away and shown in section to clarify the illustration;

Figure 2 is a plan of the lower end portion of the pen holder, certain parts being broken away to reveal details of construction;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 3--3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in Figure 1 an ink well 5 which is of the type having an ink reservoir 6 adapted to supply ink to a limited depth to a pen dipping well l. A pen holder 8 may normally be held with its pen point immersed in the ink in the dipping 40 well I by means of a suitable pen receiving socket 9.

The pen 8 includes a pen holder IIJ, a pen point II, and a feed bar I2. The feed bar I2 is equipped with slots or other suitable means 45 for picking up and retaining a supply of ink from the dipping well.

In prior pen constructions employed in the manner indicated, there has been a tendency for ink to seep or creep upwardly on the feed bar I2 and from the feed bar into the interior of the pen holder where, upon becoming dried and caked, it interferes with removability of the pen point and feed bar from the pen holder and also detracts from desired cleanliness of the pen. Also, there has been a tendency for ink to creep from the feed bar. to the outside surface of the lower end portion of the pen holder which is obviously objectionable.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pen holder IU has its lower end hollowed out as indicated at I3. The hollow end of the pen receives an upper end. portion I4 of the pen point II and an upper end portion I5 of the feed bar I2. Suitable wedging means comprising a wedge member I6 and preferably of the type shown in said Sengbusch Patent Number 1,915,338 is employed for removably locating the pen point and feed bar in place in the hollow end of the pen holder.

The outer or free end of the feed bar I2 is provided with a plurality of capillary slots Il, substantially as shown in said last mentioned Sengbusch patent and in said Patent Number 1,767,189, for holding a supply of ink to be fed to the pen point so that the pen is usable for extended writing without frequent dipping in ink.

The upper surface of the feed bar, i. e. that surface thereof which is adjacent the underside of the pen point II, is provided with a wide or non-capillary recess I8 said recess being preferably located immediately below the lower end of the pen holder I0. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, said wide recess I8 extends around the entire circumference of the feed bar or to the extent of that portion of the outer surface of the feed bar which follows the contour of the opening in the end of the pen holder. The wide or noncapillary recess I8 prevents the retention of any considerable supply of ink on the feed bar adjacent the lower end of the pen holder. It will be understood that in the absence of such a recess there is considerable capillary space formed between the underside of the pen point and the adjacent surface of the feed bar, which capillary space tends to carry ink upwardly into the interior of the hollow end of the pen holder. so carried into the holder end of the pen holder in time dries and becomes caked, and in effect, cements the feed bar and pen point in place in the pen holder. There is also some tendency for ink to spread or creep from the lower end of the pen holder outwardly and upwardly on the outer surface of the latter, thereby smudging the lower end of the pen holder and impairing its usability. The wide, non-capillary opening I8 materially reduces the tendency for ink to enter the hollow end of the pen holder or to reach the outside of the lower end thereof and thus performs a highly desirable purpose.

The described structure may be modified in some respects without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art,

I claim:

1. In a writing pen, the combination of a pen holder, a pen point, and a feed bar extending' from the pen holder and underlying the pen point and having means for holding a supply of ink to be fed to the pen point, said feed bar having a recess in its surface portion adjacent the underside of the pen point and adjacent the lower end of the pen holder, said recess being of such size that it is not capable of retaining by capillary attraction a supply of ink, thereby resisting the seepage of ink from the feed bar to the lower end of the pen holder.

2. In a writing pen, the combination of a pen holder having a hollow end, a pen point having an end portion disposed within said hollow end of the pen holder, and a feed bar having an end portion disposed within said hollow end and serving to hold the pen point in a place relative to the pen holder, said feed bar being provided with a plurality of narrow capillary slots adapted to hold a supply of ink to be fed to the pen point, and said feed bar being provided in its surface adjacent the pen point and adjacent the lower end of the pen holder with a non-capillary recess for preventing the seepage of ink from said feed bar to the lower end of the pen holder.

3. In a writing pen, the combination of a pen holder, a pen point and a feed bar, said feed bar having a recess therein in its surface underlying the pen point and being of such proportions as to resist the movement of ink upwardly between said feed bar and pen point.

4. In a writing pen, the combination of a pen holder, a pen point and a feed bar, said feed bar having a recess therein in its surface underlying the pen point and being located adjacent the lower end of said holder and of such proportions as to resist the movement of ink upwardly between said feed bar and pen point.

WILLIAM GEORGE ALBERT MCKAY. 

